Page 84 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

Don’t settle. Ever.

(Even if he’s hot and has made you

pray to gods you don’t believe in).

24

stella

I’ll never beable to thank Simon enough for giving me a job at Magnolia Properties. And while it’s not as busy, or as intense, as my job at the law firm was, it does have much better perks.

One, I’m next door to my favorite diner, owned by my eventual sister-in-law, who makes me the best vanilla lattes I’ve ever had. Two, the days are usually calm enough that I can listen to an audiobook while doing my work. Who doesn’t like to listen to fairy smut while looking at real estate listings? Third, some days my duties include watching my niece and getting baby snuggles.

Those days, like the one today, are the best.

When I showed up to the office this morning, Simon looked frantic. And that’s saying something, because my brother’s average speed is seventy miles per hour. He was wearing a baby sling with Lainey strapped in as he paced back and forth around his office, yelling to someone over speakerphone. I don’t know what it says about my brother, or my niece, that she wasn’t fazed by this in the least. She had a toy in her hand, and that’s all she needed. She was the definition of unbothered.

Now my brother? He’s always bothered about something. Today it was why the city was dragging its feet on permits that he needed to renovate a building he bought a few months back.When I asked him how I could help, he unstrapped Lainey from his chest and handed her to me. Apparently in his rush to get out of the house today, he left her diaper bag and all her bottles at the house. So I did what any good office administrator and aunt would do—I stole my brother’s keys, forwarded the office phone to my cell, and took my niece for a day of Aunt Stella time.

Which includes story time before her nap.

“So then,shetried to propose tohim, and everyone thought he was going to say yes,” I say to Lainey as I give her a bottle. “Only it turns out that he broke up with her before the reunion show. Can you believe it! And he was never good enough for her. No he wasn’t…not at all…”

I say the last part in my best baby voice as Lainey’s eyes start to get heavy. Apparently my retelling of reality television is the trick for her to go to sleep. I quickly burp her before wiping her mouth and laying her down in her crib.

“You’re such a good baby,” I whisper, kissing my fingertips before gently placing it on her forehead. “Nothing like your daddy.”

I stand over it for a few seconds, peacefully watching her sleep before slipping out. Since it was bottle and naptime as soon as we got here, I haven’t checked my phone or emails since arriving at Simon and Charlie’s. I grab my purse with my phone and laptop, bringing both to life as I take a seat on their oversized, and quite comfortable, sectional. I haven’t missed any calls, but I’m pretty sure there are a handful of emails I should get to sooner rather than later.

A few querying houses we’re renting. One from a charity asking Simon to donate.

And one from Emmett.

I know there are more to scan, and probably more in order of importance, but I click on his immediately.

Stella,

Please handle this for me.

Emmett

Wow. So personal. I feel the warmth oozing from every letter he typed.

Then again, that’s the most I’ve heard from him in a week so maybe I should take that as a good sign?

I want to scream at the top of my lungs, but I don’t because of Lainey. So instead I toss my laptop to the side and sink into the couch, covering my face with a pillow so I can scream into it.

It’s been a week since I left Emmett’s house with a folder of signed contracts. Did I know things were weird then? Yes. But I didn’t want to press anything. This whole thing has been weird and frankly, I don’t know any scenario where I know how the hell to act.

Apparently he’s choosing to act with minimal seeing or speaking.

Which is fine. It doesn’t bother me at all. I’m sure many office assistants don’t talk to their bosses regularly. Or said bosses don’t often get them coffees or sweet treats.

This is what we said we needed. A professional, business relationship. No nicknames. No flirting. No talk of him fucking me on my desk.

Though every time I sit at it I remember what he said that first day, and I can’t get the image out of my head.

I didn’t realize he was giving me the no-contact treatment until he missed his normal Tuesday Rolling Hills visit. He told Simon he needed to handle something urgent in Nashville. Simon seemed to buy it.

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